Abstract

Dr. Uzm. İrem Akin Şen* and Prof. Dr. Hülya Sungurtekin

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that causes significant mortality and morbidity worldwide.There are still many questions about the diagnosis of TB. In this study, we evaluated the clinical and laboratory finidings of patients with TB who require intensive-care unit (ICU) support. Methodology: Patients of the University Hospital Anesthesia Intensive Care Unit who received inpatinet treatment for active TB between 2012-2017 were retrospectively evaluted. Demographic characteristics, medical history, as well as clinical and laboratory findings were analyzed statistically from the patient files. Data were given as mean ± SD or %. Results: Twelve patients with active TB, of which nine (75%) were male, and three (25%) were female, were included in the study.The mean age was 55.67 ± 20.1 years.The Acute Physiology and Chronic health Assesment (APACHE II), the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS 2) and the Sequential Organ Failure Assesment Score (SOFA) were significantly higher (p; 0.002, 0.0001 and 0.041 respectively). The mean duration of ICU admission was 30.4 days. Nine patients were diagnosed with pulmonary TB (75%) and three patients with suspected TB meningitis (25%). Ten patients (83.3%) died in the ICU. Conclusions: TB is a serious health problem of international significance and remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases. It may be the major cause of death among patients hospitalized in intensive care. Early and effective treatment may decrease mortality in TB patients .TB should always be remembered and considered as a possibility.